Railroad-switch.



A. W. ROLLINGS, J. H. SWEENEY, 0. T. NELSON & T. T. TRENTHAM.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION II-LED JULY 3, 1912.

1,071,798, Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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ALEX WOODS ROLLINGS, JAMES H. SWEENEY, OSCAR TOLMAN NELSON, AND THOMAS T. TRENTHAM, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 3, 1912.

. *atented Sept. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 707,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEX W. ROLLINGS, JAMES H. SWEENEY, ()soan TOLMAN NELSON, and THOMAS T. TRENTHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at llflontgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to railroad switches and more particularly to means for locking the switch points when the switch is open or closed.

Another and more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotatably mounted transversely disposed shaft provided with holding dogs to engage the switch points, springs arranged on said shaft to normally dispose the dogs in their locking positions, a resilient locking element, and means connected to the shaft to engage said locking element and be held thereby whereby rotation of the shaft is prevented.

Still another object ofthe invention resides in the provision of a device of the above character which is simple, efficient and durable in construction and may be produced at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in View as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that we shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switch embodying the present invention, the lock casing being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 1 is a detail elevation of the key.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the accompanying drawing by like reference characters.

Referring in detail to the drawing 5 designates the rails which are mounted iipon the ties 6 in any usual or approved manner, and 7 indicates the movable switch points. These switch points are connected by means of the operating bar 8 which is adapted to be actuated by means of suitable mechanism arranged in a station at the side of the track.

A t ansverse shaft 9 extends beneath the rails and the ends of the switch points 7 and is mounted to rotate in suitable bearings 10. Upon this shaft collars 11 are fixed and between said collars and one of the bearings 10 coil springs 12 are arranged on the shaft. These s n-ings have one of their ends fixed to the collars 11. the other ends thereof being secured to the bearing 10. One end of the shaft is provided with a crank 13 and adjacent thereto an arm 141: is fixed to the shaft.

Upon the rail supporting ties at one side of the track an elongated rectangular casing 15 is secured and to one of the end walls of said casing a locking member 15 is bolted or otherwise fixed. This locking member comprises longitudinall} extending spring arms the ends of which are offset as shown at 16. To the arm 1-l one end of a rod 17 is pivotally connected. This rod is freely movable through an opening 18 in one end of the casing 15 and is provided at its other end with a spear shaped head 19. The extremities of the offset ends 16 of the spring arms are obliquely disposed upon opposite sides of the center of the locking member and are adapted to be engaged by the head 19 of the rod 17 whereby said arms are sprung apart and the opposite ends thereof engaged with the end of said head upon opposite sides of the rod. A coil spring 20 is arranged on the rod 17 and engages at one end with the end wall of the casing 15 and at its other end with a collar 21 fixed upon said rod. This spring normally acts to force the rod 17 longitudinally into the casing and projects the head 19 thereof into locked engagement with the arms of the locking member 15.

Upon the shaft 9 the stop lugs 22 are integrally formed and are normally disposed vertically alongside of the movable switch points 7. Thus it will be seen that when the switch isclosed for the trains to travel upon the main line tracks, these lugs will efiectually prevent the switch points moving to their open positions, and as the shaft 9 is securely held against rotation, liability of the train being unintentionally switched off of the main track is avoided.

WVhen it is desired to move the switch points, a key n3 1s lnserted through an opening in the top wall of the casing 15. This key is provided with wings or flanges 24 which are adapted to be disposed between the spring arms of the locking. member 15. By turning the key these arms are forced in opposite directions to release the rod 17. The crank 13 is now engaged by the foot of the operator to rotate the shaft .9, thereby throwing the lugs 22 downwardly below the plane of the switch points whereby the movement of the switch points may be effected. In this rotation of the shaft 9, the springs 12 are placed under tension. Thus when pressure upon. the crank 13 of the shaft is released, said springs act to return the shaft 5) to its normal position and :the spring 20 on the rod 17 assists in such .movement and forces the head 19 on the end of said rod between the spring arms of .the locking member 15. The switch points 7 may .of course be locked against movement in a similar manner when the switch is open. The spring 20 upon the rod 17 insures the opening or spreading of the spring arms of the locking member 15 so that they will receive and lock the head 19 of said rod. The springs 12 upon the shaft 9 in their normal condition prevent turning movement of said shaft in a direction to move the rod 17 inw rdly, said springs thus maintaining the stop lugs 22 in their vertical lock-ing positions against the switch rails.

From the foregoing it is thought :that the construction andoperation of our invention will be clearly understood. The device is highly efficient in practical use and .owing' to the fact that but comparatively few ele ments are employed, it will be obvious that the same is not liable to get out of order and may also be manufactured and installed at comparatively small cost.

While we have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the various elements, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with the movable switch points, of a transverse rotatably mounted shaft disposed beneath said switch points, lugs on said shaft adjacent to the switch points normally acting to hold said switch points against movement, a rod pivotally connected to said shaft adjacent one of its ends, resilient locking means for said rod, a spring on the rod acting to force the same into engagement with said locking means, and means to release said rod and permit of the rotation of the shaft to dispose the lugs thereon below the plane of the switch points whereby the same may be moved to their open or closed positions.

2. The combination with the movable switch points, of a transversely disposed 11otatably mounted shaft arranged beneath said switch points, said shaft having a crank on one end whereby the same maybe rotated, coil springs arranged on the shaft to yieldingly hold the same against rotation, stop lugs on said shaft disposed adjacent to the switch points to prevent their movement, an arm on the shaft, a rod pivotally connected at one end to said arm, .a lock casing, said rod being longitudinally movable in the casing, spring locking arms arranged in the casing and having offset ends, said rod being provided with a head to 'be engaged by the offset ends of said locking arms, a spring arranged upon the rod within the casing normally acting to force the head thereof into engagement with the looking arms, and a key adapted for insertion between the arms, to disengage the same from said head whereby the shaft may be rotated to dispose the lugs thereon below the plane of the switch points and permit of the movement ofsaid switch points to their open or closed positions.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two Wit? nesses.

ALEX l/VOQDS HOLDINGS. JAMES H. SWEENEY. USGAR TOLMAN NELSON. THOMAS T. TRE'NTHAM. Nitnesses J. W. RAMOGE, T. L. BEAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner v,oi Patents, Washington, 10.6. 

